Make Room Under The Big Top: The Well to Celebrate 15 Years of Offering Help & Hope
PELLA, Iowa — The Well will celebrate 15 years of offering help and hope with a free community celebration on Saturday, August 29, from 2 to 8 p.m. at 419 E. Oskaloosa St., Pella. The carnival-themed anniversary event is open to the public and will feature live entertainment, family activities, contests, food, and opportunities to celebrate the impact The Well has made throughout central and southeast Iowa.
Guests can enjoy performances throughout the day from Jeff and Kris Van Maanen, The Verhoef Quartet, Mike Cattermole (The Human Video), the Pella Open Bible Worship Band, Dale Nelson, Central College Worship, and featured storyteller Tom Vander Well.
The celebration will also include family-friendly activities such as inflatables, a treasure hunt, snacks, and contests with prizes, including a poffertjes eating contest, Best Beard contest, three-legged race, and bubblegum blowing contest. The Well Thrift Store in Pella will be open from 2 to 8 p.m., and a meal will be provided from 5 to 7 p.m.
“We are grateful for the countless volunteers, donors, churches, businesses, community partners, and staff members who have helped make The Well what it is today,” said Greg Stravers, CEO of The Well. “Most importantly, we celebrate the thousands of individuals and families whose lives have been strengthened through relationships, support, and opportunities for lasting stability. This anniversary is a celebration of what our communities can accomplish when we come together to offer help and hope.”
The Well’s story began in January 2011 when local community leaders came together with a shared vision of creating a more connected approach to helping people experiencing hardship. While many organizations were already providing valuable resources, they recognized the need for a place where those services could work together while focusing on supporting the whole person through relationships and an approach for long-term stability.
That vision became a reality in 2012 when The Well Resource Center opened in a small downtown Pella location. Volunteers and Care Coordinators met one-on-one with individuals and families, building relationships while helping people navigate challenges and connect with community resources.
As the organization grew, so did its impact. In 2014, The Well was gifted a thrift store, and in 2016 the Resource Center and Thrift Store were brought together under one roof at 419 E. Oskaloosa St., creating a campus that better served both clients and the community. The addition of Well Works in 2018 expanded employment opportunities for participants.
The Well continued to grow with a Resource Center and Thrift Store opening in Knoxville in 2019, followed by a campus in Fairfield in 2021. A Newton Thrift Store opened in 2022, and in 2025 The Well expanded to Ames with a Well Works program scheduled to launch in fall 2026.
Over the past 15 years, The Well has expanded its programs and services, created employment opportunities, engaged hundreds of volunteers, strengthened community partnerships, and impacted thousands of lives across Iowa.
“On Aug. 29, we invite everyone to join us as we make room under the big top and celebrate 15 years of offering help and hope,” Stravers said. “Whether you’ve volunteered, donated, shopped at one of our thrift stores, received services, or are simply curious about what we do, we hope you’ll join us for a time of fun as we celebrate our past and look forward to the future.”
The Well’s mission is to combine the love of Jesus, with the help of our communities, and the strength in each person to find hope for life.
For more information about the anniversary celebration or The Well, visit thewelliowa.org. 